- 14. February 2026
- Lead Developer
Haiti rundown
In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which later became Haiti, a French colony.
Based on forestry and sugar-related industries, it initially was one of the wealthiest island nations in the Caribbean.
Currently, as the financially poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti continues to experience bouts of political instability.
Geography
Area
total : 27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km
Climate
tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Natural resources
bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land
People and Society
Population
total: 11,753,943 (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Black 95%, mixed and White 5%
Languages
French (official), Creole (official)
Religions
Catholic 55%, Protestant 29%, Vodou 2.1%, other 4.6%, none 10% (2018 est.)
Population growth rate
1.23% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Capital
name: Port-au-Prince
Executive branch
chief of state: President (vacant)
head of government: Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIMÉ (since 10 November 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Louis Harold JOSEPH (since 15 May 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis HANKINS (since 3 May 2024)
Economy
Economic overview
small Caribbean island economy and OECS-member state; extreme poverty and inflation; enormous income inequality; ongoing civil unrest due to recent presidential assassination; US preferential market access; very open to foreign direct investment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$34.406 billion (2023 est.)
$35.059 billion (2022 est.)
$35.659 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$3,000 (2023 est.)
$3,000 (2022 est.)
$3,100 (2021 est.)
Exports
$1.095 billion (2023 est.)
$1.355 billion (2022 est.)
$1.272 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 82%, Canada 4%, Mexico 2%, France 2%, India 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities
garments, essential oils, scrap iron, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, bedding (2023)
Imports
$5.303 billion (2023 est.)
$5.451 billion (2022 est.)
$5.048 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
USA 31%, Dominican Republic 23%, China 14%, Indonesia 4%, India 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, rice, garments, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023)
